Founders Fund-Backed N1 to Acquire 01 Exchange Ahead of Major Network Expansion

N1 is bringing one of its biggest ecosystem projects in-house. The Founders Fund-backed Layer 1 blockchain has agreed to acquire 01 Exchange, a decentralized derivatives platform originally built on N1's trading infrastructure.

The move comes as the network prepares to launch N1 2.0, a major upgrade designed to expand its on-chain trading ecosystem. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, although the deal is expected to be completed within the next six months through a combination of equity and tokens.

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Bringing Infrastructure and Applications Together

Unlike many Layer 1 blockchains that rely on independent developers to build flagship applications, N1 is taking a more vertically integrated approach.

By acquiring 01 Exchange, the company is bringing together its blockchain infrastructure, liquidity and primary trading application under a single network strategy.

The exchange has processed more than $3 billion in trading volume and attracted over 25,000 users since launching within the N1 ecosystem.

According to N1, integrating the platform directly into the network will allow it to coordinate product development, liquidity and user growth more efficiently while reducing the fragmentation that often exists across blockchain ecosystems.

"01 Exchange has already shown what is possible on N1, and bringing it into the network lets us move faster, deepen liquidity and deliver a more integrated trading experience," said Dima Romanov, CEO and co-founder of N1.

"With N1 2.0, we're expanding that foundation across RFQ markets, vaults, equities, mobile and other on-chain financial products. We believe vertically integrated networks will define the next generation of exchanges, and N1 is being built to lead that shift."

Preparing for N1 2.0

The acquisition comes ahead of the rollout of N1 2.0, the network's next major upgrade. The update is expected to introduce request-for-quote markets, vaults, equities and additional on-chain financial products, while improving liquidity across the ecosystem.

Users can already explore the current trading interface through the N1 app at https://app.n1.xyz/. N1 also plans to launch native applications for iOS and Android, extending access to its trading infrastructure through a dedicated mobile experience.

Existing 01 Exchange users will not be required to migrate assets as part of the transition. The exchange will continue operating under the N1 brand, and points earned before the N1 launch will continue to be recognized.

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A Different Layer 1 Strategy

The acquisition reflects a growing trend among blockchain networks to own more of their core user experience rather than relying entirely on third-party applications.

While many Layer 1 ecosystems compete primarily on transaction speed and developer tooling, N1 is positioning itself as an integrated financial network where the blockchain, liquidity and flagship applications evolve together.

The strategy resembles the vertically integrated models adopted by several technology companies, where tighter coordination between infrastructure and products is intended to deliver a more seamless experience for users.

With N1 2.0 approaching, the acquisition of 01 Exchange signals that the network's ambitions extend beyond building blockchain infrastructure—it wants to compete directly in the next generation of on-chain trading.